Monarch City USA
In 2025, the Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Friends of Tawas Point State Park, was honored to receive funding from the Cooper Charitable Fund to launch an ambitious education and habitat restoration initiative: The Monarch City Project. As a result of this collaborative effort, Tawas proudly earned designation as a Monarch City, joining a growing movement dedicated to protecting one of North America’s most iconic pollinators.
With support from the Cooper Charitable Fund, we successfully:
- Raised Awareness by educating residents, students, and visitors about the monarch butterfly’s life cycle, migration journey, and the environmental challenges threatening its survival.
- Created Butterfly Habitat through the planting of native milkweed and nectar-rich flowers in public spaces, providing critical food and shelter for monarchs and other pollinators.
- Expanded Educational Opportunities by partnering with conservation organizations to deliver hands-on school programs, workshops, butterfly gardening activities, migration tracking, and life cycle observation experiences.
- Strengthened Community Engagement through volunteer opportunities, public events, and workshops that inspired residents to create pollinator-friendly habitats in their own yards and neighborhoods.
- Enhanced Tourism Potential by positioning Tawas as a destination along the monarch migration corridor, attracting visitors interested in conservation, nature tourism, and environmental education.
The success of the Monarch City Project demonstrated what can be accomplished when community partners, educators, volunteers, and donors work together toward a common goal. Now, we are ready to build on that momentum.
The Next Phase: The Pollinator Park
Our vision is to create a vibrant, welcoming Pollinator Park in the heart of Tawas a destination that combines conservation, education, public art, and community gathering space.
Monarch butterflies are more than a symbol of natural beauty; they are vital contributors to healthy ecosystems. Yet their populations continue to decline due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. The Pollinator Park will serve as a lasting community commitment to reversing that trend while creating a unique public space for residents and visitors alike.
The proposed park will feature:
- A landscape composed entirely of native, pollinator-friendly plants that support monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects.
- Comfortable seating and gathering areas where community members and visitors can relax and enjoy downtown Tawas.
- A free community library box that encourages learning and exploration.
- Public art that celebrates the connection between Tawas’ historic lighthouse heritage and the monarch butterfly’s remarkable migration story.
- Educational signage and interpretive displays focused on monarch conservation, native plants, pollinator ecology, and environmental stewardship.
This project represents far more than a beautification effort. It is an investment in environmental education, community pride, sustainable tourism, and the preservation of a species whose future depends on local action.
The Monarch City Project proved that meaningful change is possible. With your support, the Pollinator Park will transform that success into a permanent legacy—one that will educate, inspire, and benefit generations to come.
We invite you to join us in bringing this vision to life and ensuring that Tawas continues to lead by example in conservation, education, and community engagement.
Continuing efforts throughout the Tawas Community
The Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce continues to expand its Monarch Initiative throughout the Tawas community, bringing together local organizations, students, artists, and residents to promote awareness and education about pollinators and monarch butterflies. In June 2026, the Chamber helped coordinate the completion of the Tawas Bay Monarch City USA Mural, located on the back side of O’Connor’s in downtown East Tawas. The Chamber also partnered with welding students from IRESA to create metal artworks inspired by pollinators, flowers, and butterflies. These unique pieces were displayed at the Tawas Bay Art Gallery and sold, with proceeds benefiting the IRESA welding program. Moving forward, the Chamber hopes to continue engaging a variety of organizations throughout the Tawas area to increase awareness, foster education, and inspire community involvement in protecting pollinators and monarch butterflies for future generations.
Butterfly Quest
Let us showcase your Monarch Waystation, Butterfly Garden or Pollinator Park. If you are a member, please send us a picture to director@tawas.com
